Claudson’s Sew & Soak has been in La Grande for more than 50 years. It has changed names a few times as inventory has had some transitions over the years.

It began as a fabric store and was located downtown. There was a fire in the building adjacent to it and caused some smoke damage. The store was relocated to 207 Fir Street.

At some point, Don & Jody Presley purchased the fabric store and began selling Viking sewing machines. Later it was divided into 2 separate stores and the fabric portion was called Linda’s Sew Chic. It was operated by Linda Stolte & Thelma Rollins.

In 1975, Allen & Eddie Claudson moved to La Grande from Ontario and bought Linda’s Sew Chic and renamed it Claudson’s Sew Chic. A few years later, they bought the sewing machine shop from the Presley’s. The store was then moved to the current location of 1401 Adams Avenue.

In 1984, Claudson’s Sew Chic started selling spas/hot tubs from Hot Springs and changed the name to Claudson’s Viking and Hot Springs Spa Center. Allen & Eddie enjoyed serving the community for the 25 years that they owned the store but knew it was time to let it go.

Greg & Sandi Gross moved to the Grande Ronde Valley and purchased Claudson’s Viking and Hot Springs Spa Center in 2000. Vacuums and quilting fabric were added to the products inventory in 2001. The store’s name changed to Claudson’s Sew & Soak in 2004.

In 2017, the store grew and expanded to more than double its size. Vacuums were also removed from the inventory. They added a classroom in 2019, which brought it to the approximate 5100 SQFT that it is today.

Services provided by Claudson’s Sew & Soak include spas/hot tub brands sold in the store and Pfaff, Husqvarna-Viking, and Singer sewing machines. They offer regular servicing as well as repairs.

Claudson’s Sew & Soak has 3 full-time and 6 part-time employees working to serve their customers.